Leeds interest in Hwang Hee-chan likely to fade after Jesse Marsch sacked

Leeds United's former manager Jesse Marsch reacts during a Premier League match against Aston Villa at Villa Park in Birmingham on Jan. 13. [AP/YONHAP]

Leeds United sacked struggling manager Jesse Marsch on Monday, likely also ending the rumored interest the club had in acquiring Korean midfielder Hwang Hee-chan this summer.

Marsch, who was only the third American manager ever to take the helm at a Premier League club, was fired Monday 11 months after taking the job as Leeds struggle in 17th place on the table, only avoiding the relegation zone on goal difference.

Marsch was appointed to manage Leeds last year after a successful spell at Red Bull Salzburg and a difficult few months at RB Leipzig. His aggressive style of play was meant to make him a comfortable successor to Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds, although the transition never quite worked out the way the management had intended.

It was during his Red Bull Salzburg days that Marsch first encountered Hwang.

Marsch was appointed as manager of Red Bull Salzburg in 2019, leading the team to win the double in his first season. Hwang was one of the three stars of Marsch's attacking line, alongside Erling Haaland, now at Manchester City, and Takumi Minamino of Monaco.

Hwang scored 11 goals in the Austrian Bundesliga that season and picked up 12 assists. He also scored three Champions League goals with five assists, an OFB Cup goal with five assists and a Europa League goal.

Following that explosive season, Hwang moved to RB Leipzig. A year later, Marsch joined him as manager, but the pair were only reunited for three games — during which Hwang picked up a single assist — before Hwang was shipped off to Wolves.

Six months later, Marsch followed Hwang to the Premier League and there have been rumors connecting Leeds to Hwang ever since Marsch’s arrival.

The American manager’s departure will likely put an end to that interest, although for Hwang that might not be an issue anymore.

When Hwang was first linked to Leeds he was in the middle of a long slump and had been relegated to the back of the bench by then-manager Bruno Lage.

Wolves later dropped Lage for Julen Lopetegui and Hwang has very quickly seen both his game and his position in the squad improve, scoring his first goal in 11 months in an FA Cup game against Liverpool last month.

Wolves will be back in action on Saturday as they take on Southampton, although Hwang is likely to be out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]